Loom feeler mechanism



April 2, 1957 c. L. WHITLEY, SR

LOOMFEELER MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Da s. 10. 1954 IN V EN TOR.

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LOOM FEEL-ER MECHANISM April. 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

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LOQM FEELER MECHANISM Charlie L. Whitley, Sn, La Grange, Ga.

Application December 10, 1954, Serial No. 474,377

4 Claims. (Cl. 139- -270) This invention relates to a loom feeler mechanism, and more particularly to an improved loom feeler mechanism which is especially suitable for use with relatively fine fillings and which will maintain its accuracy for a long period of time after its initial adjustment.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved loom feeler mechanism arranged to actuate the transmission rod of a conventional loom having a filling replenishing mechanism to initiate the operation of said mechanism when the filling on a quill has become depleted, the improved mechanism being simple in construction, being reliable in operation, and being arranged to avoid premature initiation of the operation of the filling replenishing mechanism until the yarn on the quill which it engages has been completely exhausted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved loom feeler mechanism especially suitable for use with relatively fine yarns, the improved mechanism involving inexpensive components, being rugged in construction, causing no damage or harm to the yarns, being arranged so that it will prevent premature operation of the filling replenishing. mechanism due to the bouncing and chattering of the feeler, and being accurately adjustable so that it will operate the filling replenishing mechanism at the proper time.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an improved feeler mechanism according to the present invention, shown with the cover element thereof removed.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the feeler element of the mechanism engaged with the yarn on a quill and illustrating the normal positions of the elements of the mechanism when there is no need for replenishment of the filling.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the positions of the parts of the mechanism when replenishment is required, the feeler mechanism being in its operating position wherein the transmission rod of the re plenishing mechanism is actuated.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the components of the abutment member of the feeler mechanism of Figures 1 to 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view of the assembled feeler mechanism of Figures 1 to.7. 7

Referring to the drawings, 11 generally designates the improved feeler mechanism, said mechanism comprising a housing 12 which is secured to a stationary portion of the loom and which is positioned so that it will be located adjacent to the shuttle 13 when said shuttle is in its front center position, whereby the fceler mechanism may be engaged with the filling 14 on the quill 15 of the shuttle in the usual manner through a slot 16 in the shuttle.

The housing 12 is provided with a removable cover 17 which is normally secured on the housing by bolts 18, 18 engaged through apertures in the cover and threadedly engaged with tapped thickened wall portions 19, 19 at the opposite sides of the housing 12.

The bottom wall of the housing 12 is formed with a longitudinal groove 20 in which is slidably positioned an abutment member 21, the end wall .22 of said housing being :apertured to allow the abutment member 21 to pass therethrough, the aperture in said end wall being designated at 23.

As shown in Figure 7, the abutment member 21 comprises a main body 24 having a bottom flange 25 and an upstanding marginal flange 26, said marginal flange being notched adjacent one end thereof, as shown at 27 for a purpose presently to be described. The forward end of the body 21 is formed with the block element 28 having the longitudinal groove 29 therein and having the oflsct flanged portion 30 provided with the upstanding lug element 31. The block element 28 is further formed with the laterally projecting lug 32. Designated at 33 is a cover plate which is secured over the groove 29 and which has a depending side flange 34 engageable over the lug 31. The plate 33 is fastened on the block element 32 by a bolt extending through an aperture 35 in the plate member 33 and threadedly engaged in 1a tapped opening 36 in the block element 32.

The plate member 33 is provided with the upstanding lug 37, said lug being formed with a tapped opening 38 in which is threadedly engaged an adjustable stop screw 39, said screw being provided with a lock nut 40 which, when tightened, locks the adjustment of the screw 39 in the tapped opening 38.

Designated at 41 is a bracket member which is secured on the lower portion of the flange 25, as by suitable fastening means engaged through openings 42 and 43 provided respectively in the bracket member 41 and the flange 25. The bracket member 41 has the notched upstanding flange 46, the notch in the flange 46 being shown at 45 and being in alignment with the groove 29.

Designated at 47 is the feeler element, said feeler element having the main shank portion 48 which is slidably received in the groove 29 and which extends slidably through the notch 45. A flanged sleeve member 49 is secured on the intermediate portion of the shank 48, said sleeve having the top annular flange 50 which provides a bearing for the upper end of a coiled spring 51 surrounding the sleeve 49 and surrounding the lower portion of the shank 48, as is clearly shown, in Figures. 5 and 6, the lower end of the spring 51 hearing on the flange 46 of the bracket member 41. The feeler element 47 is formed at its top end with the elongated yarn-engaging loop 52 which extends transverse to the shank 48, as is clearly shown in Figures 5 and 6, and which terminates in the depending arm 53 which extends parallel to the shank 48 and which is formed at its end with the inwardly turned lug 54. As is clearly shown in Figure 5, the lug 54 is spaced from the wall of theblock 28 by a sufficient amount to receive the straight end portion 55 of a lever member 56 disposed in the housing 12. The lever member has the angulanly bent portion 57 and the transverse bottom arm 58 which extends slidably through the notch 27 The arm 58 terminates. in the V -shaped fulcrum element 59 whose end is engageable at times in the corner 60 of a recess 61 formed in the side wall of the housing 12. A coiled spring 62 has one end thereof connected to the arm 58 adjacent the V-shaped fulcrum element 59, as shown at 63, and has its opposite end con nected to a pin 64 secured to the upper portion of the housing main wall, as viewed in Figure 5,

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the straight portion 55 of the lever 57 is disposed adjacent to and transverse to the end portion of the transmission rod 66 which operates the filling replenishing mechanism upon longitudinal outward movement thereof. Thus, the transmission rod 66 is moved outwardly to operate the filling replenishing mechanism when the straight portion 55 of lever 57 swings in a clockwise direction from the position thereof shown in Figure 5 to the position thereof shown in Figure 6. Normally, namely, when the supply of yarn 14 on the quill 15 is adequate, the feeler element '52 cannot move a sufiicient distance inwardly to release the straight portion 55 of the lever 57. It will be noted that the spring 51 transmits a biasing force against the abutment member 21 which acts on the arm 58 of lever 57 at the notch 27 to urge the lever clockwise. Also, when the end of the abutment screw 39 comes into contact with the shuttle 13, as when the shuttle is in its front center position, the reaction of this engagement is transmitted to the abutment member 21 and thence through the notch 27 to the lever 57, so that when the fulcrum member 59 is in the position thereof shown in Figure 6, namely, with its tip engaged in the corner 60, a positive force will be transmitted to the lever 57 tending to rotate the lever clockwise. However, the straight portion 55 of the lever will be held until the feeler element 52 moves inwardly a sufiicient distance to allow the straight portion 55 to disengage from the inwardly directed catch element 54'.

When the filling is substantially depleted on the quill 15, as shown in Figure 6, the feeler element 52 is 'allowed to move inwardly a sufficient distance to release the straight portion 55 of lever 57, whereby the lever may be rotated clockwise to move the transmission rod 66 longitudinally and thus to initiate the operation of the filling replenishing mechanism.

As will be readily apparent, the abutment screw 39 may be accurately set to the proper position to cause the re plenishment of the filling mechanism only when required, whereby false changes are prevented and whereby the feeler mechanism may be employed on looms using relatively fine yarns.

Since the contacting surface of the feeler loop 52 is relatively smooth, no damage will be caused to the yarn and the sensitivity of the mechanism will be increased since there are no irregularities on the feeler loop element 52 which might tend to cause false operation of the filling replenishing mechanism.

While a specific embodiment of an improved loom feeler mechanism has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the tart. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a loom feeler mechanism, a transmission rod mounted on a 100m to move longitudinally and initiate the operation of filling replenishing mechanism carried by said loom, a feeler loop having two legs mounted on said loom to move transversely relative to said rod adjacent one side thereof, a lever engageable with the end of said transmission rod, biasing means acting between the lever and the feeler loop and urging the lever in a direction to move the rod longitudinally, means engaged with one leg of the feeler loop and being operatively coupled with said lever, and stop means on the other leg of the feeler loop limiting movement of the lever until the feeler loop has moved to a predetermined position.

-2. In a loom feeler mechanism, a transmission rod mounted on a loom to move longitudinally and initiate the operation of filling replenishing mechanism carried by said loom, a feeler loop having two legs mounted on said loom to move transversely relative to said rod adjacent one side thereof, a lever engageable with the end of said transmission rod, an abutment member slidably engaged with one leg of the feeler loop, said abutment member being engaged by said lever and being arranged to engage a loom shuttle in the front center position thereof, whereby the feeler loop may engage the filling on the quill of said shuttle, means acting between said abutment member and said one leg of the feeler loop and urging the lever in a direction to move the rod longitudinally, and stop means on the other leg of the feeler loop limiting movement of the lever until the feeler loop is movable inwardly to a predetermined position relative to said quill when the abutment member engages the shuttle in said front center position.

3. In a loom feeler mechanism, a transmission rod mounted on a loom to move longitudinally and initiate the operation of filling replenishing mechanism carried by said loom, a feeler loop having two legs mounted on said loom to move transversely relative to said rod adj acent one side thereof, a lever having an end portion engageable with the end of said transmission rod, an abutment member slidably engaged with one leg of the feeler loop, said abutment member being engaged with said lever and being provided with an adjustable element arranged to engage a loom shuttle in the front center position thereof, whereby the feeler loop may engage the filling on the quill of said shuttle, means acting between said abutment member and said one leg of the feeler loop and urging the lever in a direction to move the rod longitudinally, and stop means on the other leg of the feeler loop limiting movement of the lever until the feeler loop is movable inwardly to a predetermined position relative to said quill when the abutment member engages the shuttle in said front center position.

4. In a loom feeler mechanism, a transmission rod mounted on a loom to move longitudinally and initiate the operation of filling replenishing mechanism carried by said loom, a feeler loop having two legs mounted on said loom to move transversely relative to'said rod adjacent one side thereof, a lever engageable with the end of said transmission rod, an abutment member slidably engaged with one leg of the feeler loop, said abutment member being engaged with said lever and being provided with :an adjustable element, said adjustable element being arranged to engage a loom shuttle in the front center position thereof, wherein the feeler loop may engage the filling on the quill of said shuttle, means acting between said abutment member and said one leg of the feeler loop and urging the lever in a direction to move the rod longitudinally, and !a catch element on the other leg of the feeler loop and being engageable with an end portion of the lever, said catch element limiting movement of the lever until the feeler loop is movable inwardly to a predetermined position relative to said quill when the abutment member engages the shuttle in said front center position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,405,522 Lane Feb. 7, 1922 1,687,402 Stafford Feb. 7, 1928 2,595,958 Lane Feb. 19, 1952 2,705,026 Lee et a1. Dec. 2, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 702,485 France Sept. 24, 1930 

